My flight lands in LA on Sunday morning. Max has already left my car at the airport so I don't have to worry about my transport means back home. Sometimes I wonder what I would have done if Max wasn't there for me. I must say, he is too good to be my friend.

I couldn't make my mind relax even a bit on the plane because of what Fernando told me. His revelation has now started to haunt me. I need to know everything. Every single thing that Richard is hiding from me. With that sole motto in my head, I decided to come back. I was intending to go straight to Richard and fucking ask him about the truth that he has been hiding from me all this time. I would have still stuck to that plan if Nicole's face didn't keep surfing in front of my eyes. I know I can't go on without seeing her. Just a glimpse of her beautiful face is enough to cheer up my mood. And I wouldn't miss that by any chance. I need to see her before I leave to meet Richard. So I turn my car in the direction of the house and head towards it first.

With great excitement, I reach back home, but that spirit in me instantly drops as soon as I find the front door locked. How can I forget that Nicole works on Sundays too? I grin and shake my head, thinking about her being in her clinic. That's one of the things that I like about her. Her dedication to her work is really commendable.

I walk into the house and wonder if she took that little pup with her when I don't see it anywhere. Of course, she would have. She would never want to leave it alone in the house. That's how Nicole is. She is too caring, especially with animals. I didn't tell her anything about when I would be back, so it would be like a little surprise for her when she discovers me here at home. I am really delighted to meet her after almost 4 days. I grin and place the bunch of roses on the table. I bought them for her on my way back. I hope she'll like it. I don't know why, but I literally feel nervous, like a school kid who is trying to impress his crush for the first time. I walk to my room upstairs and get a nice warm shower, having the thought of making something special for lunch. It's Sunday, so there is a possibility that she might return by the afternoon. Fuck! I am so happy! This is going to be our day.

As I step out of the bathroom, drying my hair, the doorbell chimes loudly. Shit! That's her. Wait! Did she get back from work earlier than usual? Nicole is here and I haven't even started anything. I fucking messed everything. I hurry down to get to the door, but then stop midway when I realize something. Why would Nicole ring the bell? She could just get in easily because she has the spare keys. Then I guess it would be someone else. But who could it be? I don't have any visitors usually. I walk to the door with a frown when I hear the doorbell buzz again. When I open the door, an ugly scowl instantly takes over my face, looking at the person standing at the door.

"What are you doing here?" I scoff, looking at Sophia in front of me. I didn't expect her to be here. I don't know what is it with her face, every time I look at her it absolutely pisses me off to death. From the time when I discovered her reality, I could always sense this evil aura encircling her. Like the strange feeling of something bad that would occur with her arrival.

"I wanted to see you." She says in a tender voice, and my eyes fall on her lips. That shiny red lipstick is just awfully disgusting.

"Really, Sophia?" I crinkle my nose and lift my gaze to meet her eyes.

She hesitates for a minute and then says. "That day when you came to my house, I couldn't get a chance to talk to you properly." I roll my eyes when she tries to put on an innocent face. She can't pull these tricks on me. I know her very well.

"I want to speak with you, Christopher." She says, and I shoot an ugly glare at her.

"Do you think we still have anything to talk about?" I retort.

"Please don't say that..." She reaches to touch me, but I step back and signal her to stay. Her hand hangs up in the air as she gazes at me with a face full of pain.

I watch her as she swallows harshly and pulls her hand to the side. "I know you wouldn't remember it, but we grew up together. We did everything together, Chris. We were best of friends before we got into a relationship." She lets out an exasperated sigh and asks. "Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

I know we were friends before, but that doesn't mean I would forgive her for what she did to me. I avoid saying anything to her as I cross my arms. "You were always there for me and so was I. It would be hard for us to even think about spending a day without talking with each other. Do you remember that?" She asks, glancing at me intently.

"Now it has been two months since we have talked." She searches for my eyes and says. "You stopped visiting my place. You don't pick my calls. It hurts, Christopher. It really hurts." Her voice gets soft, and I know she is on the verge of crying. Why is she doing this? Why is she trying to make me the bad guy here? "I can't go on like this. I couldn't sleep at night thinking that we couldn't go back to the time when we were happy together." She pauses for a minute and looks into my eyes. "I can't bear with your ignorance, Christopher. It's painful."

"I am sorry Sophia but...." I shake my head and begin to protest but she cuts me off immediately.

"I am not here to talk about our relationship or the engagement." She says in hurry trying to convince me. I frown and look at her doubtfully. "I know I ruined that thing for us. I am just here to mend our broken friendship." She offers me a small smile.

"I don't think..."

"Please, Christopher. I promise we'll stick to being just friends. I wouldn't bother you, believe me. Just give me a chance." I study her face. It doesn't look like she is lying or she is trying to act. And for a minute, I think it wouldn't be bad if I consider giving her a chance. Moreover, I know how stubborn Sophia is, so if I want to get rid of her, I would have to listen to her.

As I am still thinking, Sophia speaks. "See what I've brought as a gift for you. It would be a nice way to celebrate the start of our new friendship." She shows me a wine bottle which she is holding in her hand and I wonder how the hell I didn't notice it before.

"Sophia, no...I don't drink at this hour of the day."

"Come on, Christopher. Just a sip of wine wouldn't do any harm. I promise I wouldn't ask you anything. Please..." She pouts and looks behind me into the house as if she is asking permission to get in.

I look at her and sigh. "Fine. But you can stay for just 10 minutes. After that, you'll have to leave."

"That's perfect." She grins and gets in as I step aside. I walk into the kitchen as she follows me. I open the cabinet on the top and pull out two glasses. Sophia opens the bottle and pours it for us while I go and sit at the dining table. She hands me the wine. I nod, thanking her, and take a sip.

She goes back and leans against the counter with her glass and looks at me. "Do you like her?"

I know she is asking about Nicole. What is her and Richard's fucking problem? Why are they always behind Nicole? I get annoyed with her question, but I try to suppress the irritation reflecting in my tone. I lift my gaze from the glass and look back at her. "Weren't you saying just seconds ago that you wouldn't ask me any questions?"

She rolls her eyes and says. "Oh, Christopher. We are starting our friendship, remember? You don't have to hesitate in sharing things with me."

"No, I don't like her," I state plainly, drinking the wine. It tastes good but I feel something different about it. I don't know why, but it doesn't feel right.

"So it's just sex?" Sophia arches an eyebrow mockingly and places her lips on the glass.

"Sophia, I am not going to discuss my sex life with you," I say angrily and gulp the rest of the liquid in one go. I finish my drink quickly so that she could take an indication that it's her time to leave.

"Okay fine. Let's forget about everything and raise a toast to our new friendship." She smiles, raising her glass in the air. I frown when I realize a hint of wickedness in her smile. Why is she looking at me like that?

"Sophia?" I place the glass on the table and begin to stand, but I stumble back all of a sudden. Fuck? I don't know why, but my vision suddenly blurs. I blink sometimes to register the things around, but it just gets worst. What the fuck is happening? Then I realize why the drink tasted so different. There was something in the drink that Sophia gave me. I grip the table, trying to prevent myself from falling, and lift my head to look at her.

All I could see is Sophia's smirking face before everything blacks out.

                                                                          -----------------------

Am I dead? That's the first question that comes to my mind when I find myself unable to move my body. My head seems like a water-filled coconut as it whirls when I try to move it. Is this some kind of hangover? Fuck! My eyes feel too heavy to flicker them open. But I could sense about laying on something soft. It feels like a bed. I slowly try to open my eyes when I hear a knock and a familiar female voice.

"Christopher? Are you in there?" I realize it's Nicole's voice. Before I could register anything, the door clicks open and I hear a loud scream. I turn my head and snap my eyes open to find Nicole standing outside my room. There is a woman in front of her. Her back is facing me. She is holding the door with one hand and the other one is securing the towel wrapped around her. Who is she and what is she doing in my room with just a fucking towel around her?

Fuck! Suddenly, the realization hits me like a truck. It's Sophia. She fucking spiked my drink. No...fucking no. This cannot happen. I close my eyes and silently pray to God, thinking it shouldn't be what I assume it to be. I sigh, looking slowly down, and gasp in horror when I find myself wearing nothing but boxers. Fuck! This is exactly what I was dreading. This is bad! I glance at Nicole in distress and find her still staring at me. I see her lips quiver a bit and her eyes fill with tears as she looks back at Sophia. Her vision darts between Sophia and me in disgust before she bites her lip and runs to her room.

Fucking no! I try to stand up, with my head still throbbing. I know I would never have sex with Sophia in my fully sane mind or even being fucking unconscious.

I look at Sophia, who has a sick smile on her face. Bitch!

"How could you do this, Sophia?" I ask her. "I trusted you and gave you a chance and what the hell you did? I can't believe you could stoop this low." She doesn't seem to be affected by any of my words as she gives me a bored expression. Fucking unbelievable!

I run my fingers through my hair in frustration and look back at her. "You set this up? It was your plan to put a show in front of Nicole, isn't it?" I seethe. "You fucking lied."

She looks at me and smirks. "You said you don't like her, then why are you overreacting?"

My blood boils with anger watching how calm she is looking right now after doing everything. I reach for her clothes from the bed and throw them at her face. "Wear them fucking now."

While she gets dressed, I turn around and change into my clothes.

Once she is done, I grab her arm and drag her out of my room. "Now you are getting out of this house."

"What the fuck, Christopher. You can't do this." She protests.

"Yes, I can." I give her a murderous look and tighten my hold on her as I stomp down the stairs, pulling her with me.

"Christopher? Stop it! You are hurting me." Sophia lets out a squeal, wriggling her arm in my hold.

"Shut up! Don't you dare take my name, you bitch! You fucking played with me." I bark at her furiously as I see the terror in her eyes.

"You are not doing the right thing, Christopher..."

I don't stop until we get to the main door. "Get fucking out of my house and never dare to show me your face again." I throw her out of the house and say. Sophia slips on the porch steps and falls to the ground. I see the mascara running down her eyes before I bang the door on her face.

Once I am done with Sophia, I lean against the door, trying to gather my composure. After my anger subsides, I run back to Nicole's room. Thank god! It's open. I let out a sigh of relief. As soon as I get in, I see Nicole stuffing everything into her bag angrily. Shit no! Tears are flowing down her eyes.

"Nicole, listen to me." I slowly advance in her direction.

She turns and I witness fire in her eyes. I know at this moment she is more angry than hurt. "I am surprised that you still have something to say in your defense."

"Nicole, let me explain it to you..." I still try to defend.

"How the hell are you going to explain what I saw?" She screams angrily and I take a step back. It feels like if I dare to touch her right now, I would literally burn.

"It wasn't what it looked like, Nicole. Trust me."

"So what should I understand with you being pretty much naked in the bed and Sophia opening the door with a towel wrapped around her? Do you think I am stupid?" She crosses her arms and questions.

"Nicole, Sophia played this. You have to listen to me. I don't know how to tell this...but she had drugged my drink." I confess in a shameful tone. I should have known better than to trust her words and let her in.

"What bullshit?"

"I came back in the morning. I didn't tell you because I wanted it to be a surprise." I sigh and look at her. "When I heard the doorbell. I thought it was you. But instead, I found Sophia standing in front of the door. She got here telling me she wanted to talk. That she just wants to be friends with me and nothing else." I scan through her face to see if I am convincing enough. Nicole doesn't say anything as she glares at me. "It was my mistake that I believed her and let her in. We ended up having the wine she brought. And the next thing I remember, I was in the bed when I heard your knock."

The lines over her forehead fade and for a moment a hope that she would be in my favor surges in my heart. "Do you want me to believe this crap? Why would you even allow her to get in the house when you know what she is capable of?" She snaps at me after a minute and I am disappointed by the bluntness in her tone.

"I... she just acted..." I stammer, unable to answer her. I know it was my fault, but how on earth I was supposed to know that Sophia would turn out to be such a nasty bitch?

"Stop it, Christopher. Fucking stop it!!" Nicole yells, and I look back at her in shock. She grabs her bag and walks out of the room. Why can't she believe me?

"Nicole, wait?" I call her, following her out of the room.

"Nicole, I may be a lot of things, but I am not a cheater. Do you think I would betray you like that? Especially after confessing my love to you?" I ask her desperately, feeling hurt that she couldn't understand my love for her yet.

When she reaches for the doorknob, I finally see the little dog standing beside her. When did he get here? He wags his tail, looking at her. "Come on Frosty. Let's go." Nicole says to the puppy.

Wait? When did he get a name? I was gone for fucking four days and Nicole decided to name him? Yeah, It's true that I don't like him but I am a bit offended that Nicole didn't think that my opinion was important in making such a big decision.

I open my mouth to say something, that's when Nicole turns. Her eyes are intensely red as she gazes at me. "You know when you said, just because my father did something bad doesn't mean every other man would turn out like him. For a second, I thought I could believe you. I thought you would prove me wrong about my belief. You would bring back the faith that I lost in me for love..."

She pauses for a moment and continues. "I guess I was wrong. You are just like him...." It feels like a loud slap on my face as she spits it and walks out of the door.

I sigh and turn my head. My eyes take in the sight of the roses still resting over the table, their color has faded a little. I look back to the door from which Nicole left. I never thought the day would end like this.